Anthurium plant named ‘Mars’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named ‘Mars’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; large, durable dark green leaves that are ovate in shape; large and numerous spathes that are positioned upright and beyond the foliage on strong and erect scapes; durable, glossy dark red spathes; year-round continuous flowering; good flowering under low light conditions; and good post-production longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAnthurium plant, botanically known as Anthurium andreanum, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Mars’.

The new Anthurium is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Anthurium cultivars that have afreely clumping growth habit, strong and vigorous plant growth,attractive spathe color, numerous inflorescences and leaves, and goodpost-production longevity.

The new Anthurium originated from a cross by the Inventor in January,1995 of the Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection codeNo. 93-27 as the female, or seed, parent with the Inventor's proprietaryAnthurium andreanum selection code No. 00-25 as the male, or pollen,parent. The cultivar ‘Mars’ was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands in February, 1998.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by tissue culture in alaboratory in Belgium has shown that the unique features of this newAnthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Anthurium has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the cultivar ‘Mars’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mars’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Upright plant habit.

2. Freely clumping growth habit.

3. Large, durable dark green leaves that are ovate in shape.

4. Large and numerous spathes that are positioned upright and beyond thefoliage on strong and strong and erect scapes.

5. Durable, glossy dark red spathes.

6. Year-round continuous flowering.

7. Good flowering under low light conditions.

8. Good post-production longevity.

The new Anthurium can be compared to the female parent, the Inventor'sproprietary selection code No. 93-27. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted by the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of thenew Anthurium differ from plants of selection code No. 93-27 in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium are more compact than plants of theselection code No. 93-27.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium have more durable leaves than plants ofthe selection code No. 93-27.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium have larger spathes than plants of theselection code No. 93-27.

4. Plants of the new Anthurium have dark red-colored spathes whereasplants of the selection code No. 93-27 have pink-colored spathes.

The new Anthurium can be compared to the male parent, the Inventor'sproprietary selection code No. 00-25. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted by the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of thenew Anthurium differ from plants of selection code No. 00-25 in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium are more compact than plants of theselection code No. 00-25.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium have smaller and more durable leaves thanplants of the selection code No. 00-25.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium have dark red-colored spathes whereasplants of the selection code No. 00-25 have dark pink-colored spathes.

The new Anthurium can be compared to the Anthurium cultivar ‘Elisabeth’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,704. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted by the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of thenew Anthurium differ from plants of the cultivar ‘Elisabeth’ in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium are more compact than plants of thecultivar ‘Elisabeth’.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium have more durable leaves than plants ofthe cultivar ‘Elisabeth’.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium and the cultivar ‘Elisabeth’ differ inspathe lobe coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Anthurium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of thecultivar ‘Mars’. Leaf, spathe and spadix colors in the photograph mayappear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe 2.5-year old plants grown in 30-cm containersin Schipluiden, The Netherlands, in a glass greenhouse with an averageday temperature of 25° C. and an average night temperature of 19° C.

Botanical classification: Anthurium andreanum cultivar ‘Mars’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection codeNo. 93-27.

Male parent.—Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andreanum selection codeNo. 00-25.

Propagation:

Method.—By tissue culture.

Time to develop roots.—About 70 or 84 days at 24° C. or 21° C.,respectively are required to root a tissue-cultured plantlet.

Rooting habit.—Numerous and very strong fleshy roots.

Plant description:

Plant shape.—Upright, inverted triangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.—Freely clumping, bushy and dense. Appropriate for 17 to40-cm containers.

Plant height.—About 60 cm from soil level to leaf plane and about 60 to85 cm from soil level to apex of spathes.

Plant width.—About 100 to 120 cm.

Plant vigor.—High.

Growth rate.—Rapid.

Crop time.—About 8 and 16 months are usually required from planting ofyoung plants to finished plants in 17 and 40-cm containers,respectively.

Foliage description.—Quantity: Usually about two to four per shoot.Length: About 30 to 42 cm. Width: About 17 to 23 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:Apiculate. Base: Strongly auriculate; lobes not overlapping. Margin:Entire. Surface: Slightly undulating. Texture: Smooth, glabrous,leathery. Color: Young leaves, upper surface: Darker than 137A; glossy.Young leaves, lower surface: Darker than 137A; somewhat glossy. Matureleaves, upper surface: Darker than 137A. Mature leaves, lower surface:Darker than 147B to 147C with gray and reddish flush. Petiole: Length:About 35 to 55 cm. Color: Close to 146B; slight anthocyanin. Geniculumlength: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm. Geniculum diameter: About 5 to 7 mm.Geniculum color: 146A to 144A; older leaves, dark purple anthocyanin.

Inflorescence description:

Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held beyond thefoliage. Flowering structures arise from leaf axils. Freely flowering;continuous flowering year-round; numerous spathes/spadices per plant.

Inflorescence longevity.—Spathes/spadices last about six weeks underwinter conditions and about three months under summer conditions;persistent.

Flowers.—Quantity per spadix: Numerous, about 200. Shape: Rounded.Diameter: About 1 mm, maximum.

Spathe.—Length: About 18 to 24 cm. Width: About 16 to 20 cm. Shape:Cordate to ovate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Very strongly auriculate; lobesnot overlapping. Margin: Entire. Texture: Leathery, glabrous, slightblistering, glossy. Color: When opening: 45A. Front surface: 45A; lobesbecoming green, close to 144A, and darker green with development. Backsurface: 47A to 45B. After senescence: 46B; lobes, dark brown greenishred, R.H.S. Colour Chart value not available.

Spadix.—Length: About 6 to 8 cm. Diameter: Midsection, about 10 to 11mm; apex, about 8 mm. Shape: Columnar. Cross section: Rounded.Longitudinal axis: Very weakly recurved. Color: Immature: 159B. Base andmid-section: 47D. Apex: 33A. After senescence: 146C to 151C.

Scape.—Length: About 45 to 55 cm. Aspect: Strong and erect. Color: 144A;slight anthocyanin at apex, purplish.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Pollen color: Creamy white, 158D.Gynoecium: Stigma shape: Ovoid. Ovary: Protogyneous.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Anthurium have exhibited goodresistance to root diseases common to Anthurium.

Seed development: Seed development on plants of the new Anthurium hasnot been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named‘Mars’, as illustrated and described.